Not before time, a slightly tearful, but impressively gracious, Rory McIlroy has been crowned the BBC sports personality of the year.
The voting public has had a curious attitude towards those who split fairways with astonishing precision, with Nick Faldo the last golfer to win in 1989 (the year McIlroy was born, no less) and Dai Rees, in 1957, the only other one to take home the trophy in the previous seven decades of this television programme.
But for the manner in which he completed a career grand slam at Augusta, with that quite brilliant wedge to the 18th green to conquer Justin Rose in the play-off, and then made another massive contribution to a Ryder Cup victory in New York, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman has finally received the recognition he has long deserved.
“I suppose if I don’t win it this time, I never will,” he remarked last month, having lost during that period when he was winning his first four majors to Mark Cavendish in 2011, Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Lewis Hamilton in 2014.
McIlroy with his Ryder Cup-winning team-mate Tommy Fleetwood — Europe’s golfers took the team of the year award
PA
On this occasion, however, a British Formula One world champion did not secure enough votes to deny McIlroy, who flew all the way from Jupiter (Florida, obviously) overnight to be here in Salford after playing in the Golf Channel Games on Wednesday.
He lost that particular nearest-the-pin competition by an inch to Scottie Scheffler but this, presumably, was nothing like as close, with McIlroy securing public approval after the BBC had introduced a new voting format to create an extra level of suspense. There was a brief pause on voting when six names were reduced to a top three, before the lines were then reopened for the concluding 32 minutes of the show.
McIlroy’s achievements speak for themselves. He became only the sixth golfer in history to win all four men’s majors, following that in September by shutting out the noise of a hostile American crowd at Bethpage to claim three-and-a-half points in Europe’s first victory on US soil since 2012. But this award is also about personality and McIlroy’s very public opposition to LIV Golf should also be celebrated.
The shortlist for this edition of Spoty highlighted what a successful year it has been for British sport, but the programme started with the Helen Rollason Award and a presentation that rather put the sacrifice and toil of elite professional sport into perspective.
The recipients on this occasion were David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, the fathers of Elsie and Alice, two of the three little girls brutally murdered while attending a dance class in Southport in July last year. Here were two men who ran this year’s London Marathon, who were rightly honoured for their extraordinary spirit and courage. “I’m just a dad keeping a promise to a little girl,” said Mr Stancombe. Rarely has there been a more poignant moment in the history of Spoty.
The programme moved slightly awkwardly to a television interview with Lando Norris, who was unable to be here after securing his first F1 world title in Abu Dhabi 11 days ago. It may not have helped his cause with the voting public, even if there were people in the crowd wearing crash helmets.
McIlroy was next, dressed in a black tie and accompanied by his Cranberries signature tune as he appeared on stage. He did well to acknowledge the victims of Southport, making the point that he too is the “father of a little girl”. McIlroy talked about Augusta in the context of his previous struggles. “I didn’t make it easy for myself,” he said. “When you want something so much, the obstacle becomes yourself.” But then he shifted the focus to those two dads. “They are heroes,” he said.
There was something of a paternal theme to the evening. Thierry Henry, for many the finest player to have graced the Premier League, received the lifetime achievement award from his four children. The 48-year-old former Arsenal striker paid tribute to them, thanking them for saving him from his “traumas” and giving him “empathy”. “This is your award, not mine,” he told them.
Luke Littler was another contender who was absent, and fair enough given his next appearance in the World Darts Championship is on Sunday. That said, he was only 22 miles away, practising in St Helens.
Kildunne finished runner-up after England’s Rugby World Cup triumph
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The two Lionesses followed. Chloe Kelly first, then Hannah Hampton. There were tears from England’s goalkeeper; a young woman who has somehow overcome an eye condition to become the best. Kelly also pulled at a few heart strings. “The European Championship was good but my win was finding happiness on the football pitch again,” said England’s serial matchwinner, reflecting on her difficult departure from Manchester City in January.
Last but by no means least, it was Ellie Kildunne’s opportunity to remind us of her brilliance on a rugby pitch as well as the fact that, while there is now a Barbie to mark her contribution to England’s World Cup win, she was never one for playing with dollies.
It got a laugh and it also charmed the public enough to secure her a place in the top three alongside McIlroy and Norris.
If that seemed a little harsh on the Lionesses, their boss, Sarina Wiegman, did at least receive the coach of the year award, in her case for the second time.
Norris, who came third but was unable to attend the ceremony, speaks to host Alex Scott
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Mondo Duplantis was the world sports star of the year for his dominance in the pole vault, while the young sports personality of the year award went to another Lioness, Michelle Agyemang.
For once, though, Spoty belonged to the golfers. First Mcllroy was joined by Tommy Fleetwood in accepting the team of the year award for the Ryder Cup stars.
And then the big one. Henry revealed that Kildunne had finished runner-up before Keely Hodgkinson pulled the card from the golden envelope and revealed that McIlroy had indeed succeeded her as the nation’s favourite.
McIlroy delivered a superb speech, generously noting the success of the other finalists and their own “dedication” before thanking his parents and his wife, Erica, and daughter Poppy. “2025 was a year when I made my dreams come true,” he said. “A year that dreams are made of.”
The awards in fullSports personality of the year
Rory McIlroy (golf)Young sports personality of the year
Michelle Agyemang (football)Team of the year
European Ryder Cup team (golf)Coach of the year
Sarina Wiegman (football)World sport star
Armand Duplantis (Sweden, pole vault)Lifetime achievement award
Thierry Henry (France, football)Helen Rollason award
Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe